Monday, January 18, 2010

My Stripping Weekend

What a fun weekend…shopping and stripping!  Can it get any better?

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On Saturday morning we decided to head over to Ogdensburg, NY to do some shopping.  We left bright and early and were back home by 2 p.m.  We did our usual Walmart, Price Chopper and Joann’s.  I didn’t buy too much at Joann’s…sewing machine needles, some inexpensive muslin to use as a stabilizer backing for stripping and a few other odds and ends.

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I was in the mood to sew so off to the studio I went.  I had completed all my stripping the day before so all I had to do was cut out the muslin backing squares.  Once I completed those,  I decided to take a little detour en route.  By Sunday morning, I had completed these…

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Four needle books.  Since I had never stripped before…*wink*…I decided to try something small first.  I had a blast!  Easy-peasy and oodles of fun.

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2010 is my year for RAK’s, so you never know what might show up in your mail box.

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I continued to strip on Sunday.  Time to move on to bigger and better things.  All this stripping and I wasn’t even getting tired.  I even got to asking myself why I didn’t start my stripping career earlier in life?  Gasp!

I added the last border this morning and here’s the result.

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I haven’t decided whether I’m going to stop here and make  it into a table topper or to continue until it’s a decent throw size.  I have plenty of strips left so I’m inclined to continue.  What do you think?

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If any of you are on the fence about trying this, go for it!  Not only is it easy but it’s fun and totally stress free.  And what better way to use up some of those scraps? 

It was almost like taking a trip down memory lane.  Every time I’d pick up a new strip I’d say to myself, “Oh yeah…I remember where this was from”.

And the best thing is that there are NO rules and anything and everything goes.

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If you’re unsure about how to get started, Robyn has a great tutorial that she wrote about a couple of days ago.  Pop over and have a look.

Give it a try.  Who knows?  You too can become a stripper!

Happy stripping…I mean stitching!

Kaaren ♥

54 comments:

Abby and Stephanie said...

CUTE needlebooks! Wow you're really goind to town on your strings. Great for you Kaaren.

ferne said...

I saw the title of your post and had to see if you were talking paint, wallpaper or fabric...the other thing didn't even cross my mind, guess I'm getting old. I tried her tutorial the other day also and it was fun. I have a runner waiting to be quilted. I think you need to add one more row to your quilt and have it 4 rows wide. It's not very time consuming and it would be more useful that way.

Karen said...

Stripping. Glad to know it was the quilting kind of stripping. LOL!

You can make a strippy border for one of your quilt projects. Keep that in mind.

Sandie @ crazy'boutquilts said...

Cute projects! I did so much stripping, that I found myself cutting into yardage~ now my strips have multiplied! LOL They are like bunnies, you know! :-))

Allie said...

Those needlebooks are darling! You're getting to be quite a proficient stripper! I think you should continue adding to your blocks - they look really wonderful.

Stina Blomgren said...

What a weekend... ;o))
Amazing Kaaren.. and it looks like you have had lots of fun too..:o) with the stripping..;o))

Susan said...

You are just too much. Is the picture on your blog header in your entry?

Rita said...

I love what you did with your strips. The quilt is adorable.

Cathi said...

Those needle books are fantastic -- so colourful and fun!
Love the little strippy quilt. There's something about them that is so happy!

Primitive Friends said...

I love your Needlebooks, are they your own design? I'd love to make some of these! My aunt sews, but she doesn't quilt. And my mom started a prayer quilt group at her church, these would be great to make for the women in her group!

I too have a 'stripping' project that I'm getting ready to do! I can't wait to see if it turns out they way I'm hoping!

Béa said...

Very good start, both quilt & needlecase are beautiful. I 'm making my cushion with your last design, photo soon !

Robyn said...

I've been feeling the itch to start stripping (ooh that sounds bad) and your pic here has furthered that. I love the white sashing and cornerstones. Great job. I may have to "borrow" your idea. Hope that's ok.

Ulla said...

So great to see new ways to use string blocks. Your needlebooks are very sweet and the quilt has a fresh look. Until now I always thought of string blocks only in big size and used for quilts. Thank you for the inspiration.

Tessilesa said...

wow!!! wonderfuil idea!! i think i will go to sew more stripes like you! Good idea! thank you. Francy

Francien said...

Those look fabulous Kaaren...i also never did this kind of stripping or made a needlebook for that matter...i still have saved your tutorial on that...but you have inspired me to give this a try...they look easy...go and check out Robyn site to get the tutorial..gives me a change to get away from the log cabin blocks....thanks Kaaren for the link.. and your tabletop is awesome..would look even better in a trow i think...love the colors..
greetings ♥ Francien.

Dianne said...

Love your strip quilt and like your sashings and cornerstones, it kinds of calms it all down. Another row would be good too I think. They are good fun and its interesting to see what you get using random strips.

Anonymous said...

I love the projects you came up with using the stripping method. I have been wanting to give this technique a try as well, but have not found the time as of yet. How difficult was it to make the needlebooks? I have been looking for a tutorial showing how to make one and was wondering if you found one on the web or came up with the design yourself? Thanks.

Lei

Lurline said...

You are going great guns, Kaaren - thanks for showing!
Hugs - Lurline♥

Maggey and Jim said...

It does need something.. not sure about borders but you did ask? I really like it and those needle cases are darling.. Easy,peasy my eye.. There is some work in those..
Maggey

Janet said...

I love the needlebooks. What a great little project to get a taste for strings. I can tell you are having so much fun and the top is looking wonderful. Keep going, you're on a roll.

Deb said...

Love your stripping Kaaren. It looks so effective. There are certainly a lot of strip projects going on at the moment with some fabulous results.
Love your wee needlebooks.
hugs Deb

Copper Patch said...

I think you're well on your way to a new career in stripping!
Keep going with the top...it looks like it wants to be a quilt, espcially since you are enjoying it so much.
Abbe :o)

Julia said...

They all look great Kaaren..
I think I'll have to give this a go,,,use up some old stash pieces..
Julia ♥

Sharon said...

Kaaren, you are well on your way to becoming the Stripper Queen! Your little needle-books turned out great! How about a piano key border for your quilt? More stripping! I don't think I have told you before, but I love the music on your blog.

Judy C said...

I love the needle cases, and the mini quilt, add a fe more rows it's real cute. by the way what is RAK'S? Can you tell I am new to this?

auntdeedee said...

Who knew stripping could be so much fun!!!! LOL Absolutely love those needlebooks, just adorable. What do you use for stripping the fabric? I have an oxford needle punch that i've been dying to use and make some mats needle punching strips of homespun, but I need to get something to make those small strips....just the thought of doing it with a rotary is just too exhausting!!!

Nanette Merrill said...

You've been up to some really cute things. Love the unique needlebooks.

Julie said...

you've done well kaaren. i love your creations. if you've got more strips make a throw.
hugs,
julie xox

tami said...

Who knew stripping could feel so rewarding? ;)

Patty said...

Very productive weekend! Nice needle cases, and I think you should continue and make you strip quilt into a decent size through.
Peace,
Patty

Annie Bee said...

Lovely needlebooks and so colourful. I haven't tried stripping yet but will pop ove to Robyn's and check it out who knows I may just become a stripper tooo.....LOL. I love it just as a runner - but then I am crazy about runners.

WoolenSails said...

Love the needlebooks, great project to make up as gifts.

Debbie

Susannah said...

Heavenly days...I love those wonderful little needle books! They just catch my eye every time.

Great job stripping there, Kaaren.

Friends,
Susannah

Lissa Jane said...

Woww!! I wanna be a stripper too!
I am thinking of how much traffic you are getting from your blog post title today??? *W* I had a lot of traffic after one blog post header!
I love your strip quilt and your needlebooks are too cute!


Lissa

Solstitches said...

I love those needlebooks. I need to try stripping :)
Thanks so much for the great idea.

Margaret

Jantine said...

Those strings are fun and if I were you I would just keep sewing and make a good throw for myself ;-)!

Pieced Pastimes said...

Kaaren - Thanks for stopping by my blog - it has been a while. I will try to post more often. Your 'stripping' needlebooks are wonderful, but of course all your projects are - so I am not surprised!

Darlene said...

Love those needlebooks! Who knew you could be such a successful stripper - wink - LOL Love the quilt - I say keep stripping and make it bigger.

Karen said...

wow! what a stripper you are, lol!
love the little needlebooks- just perfect...I vote that you keep strippin'as you are so good at it *wink*

ranette said...

Love your stripping projects and I'd go ahead and make a big strip quilt!

Dolores said...

I'd say continue on until you get a throw. It will not only keep you warm but give you a lift because it is so very colourful.

Heidi said...

LOL! I am glad we really do understand exactly what your stripping is. ;-) Everything looks great too. I would vote make it a little bigger so you can use it to keep you warm. It is such a cheerful, happy quilt. I have a box full of strips I keep while I am doing other quilts. One day I will get it out and get started. But for now, I am loving watching you strip...lol. Any decisions about tabletopper or quilt???

Hugs ~
Heidi

Cath's Pennies Designs said...

Oh, I'm admiring your stripping skills! I can now proudly tell everyone that I know a professional stripper.
Great needlebook. So cute and useful!
Cathy

Darlee said...

How beautiful! So many great techniques to indulge in... and now I see why quilters are such happy people!! ;)

Laurel said...

Sounds like you've had loads of fun! Stay warm.

Laurel said...

Sounds like you've had loads of fun! Stay warm.

Sue-Anne said...

I love your work so far! I think you should keep going and make a larger quilt. It looks fantastic, especially with the white sashings.

Sherri said...

You have been so busy! I love all of your projects!

Barri said...

Kaaren, those needlebooks are far too cute. I too thought of sewing this weekend but that is as far as it went ...just a thought...I did manage to finish a redwork calednar quilt, only the blocks. But it was a fun thing to do while sitting with my dh. GREAT WORK....

Barri said...

CUTE CUTE CUTE! Kaaren what cute needlecases. What a accomplished weekend. I thought about sewing but that is as far as it went this weekend, a thought. I did manag to finish a redwork calendar quilt, the blocks only. A good thing to do while sitting with my dh watching tv.
GREAT WORK!!

Krystal Kats said...

Hi Karen, I love your needle books those are really cute. I found your blog from your flickr site. You had commented on my cross stitch project.Thanks I am working away at it. I am following you now on your blog too. Hugs to you, enjoy a great day!

Connie said...

I really like you needle book and the strip quilt , I'm working on a strip quilt and you quilt it as you make it, I got along way to go but it is getting bigger, the block are 10 inches. Happy Striping!

Carrie P. said...

Well, you are an excellent stripper. lol

Simone de Klerk said...

Love waht you made! Very inspiring. Have a lovely weekend.